Hands-on: Apple Watch Series 11, SE 3 & Ultra 3 — First Impressions

At Apple Park I spent time with the newly announced Apple Watch Series 11, Watch SE 3 and Watch Ultra 3. Overall the most intriguing is the Series 11, though many updates are evolutionary rather than revolutionary.

Key takeaways

• Series 11: Appears nearly identical to Series 10 in size and feel, but gains an IonX coating that Apple says is 2× more scratch resistant. Adds a new space grey case option and updated loop bands. The notable software/health changes include “Possible hypertension” alerts (trend-based alerts using optical heart sensors — not a numerical blood pressure reading), sleep scoring in watchOS 26, and up to ~24 hours of battery life with ~8 hours reserved for overnight sleep tracking.
• SE 3: A compelling budget option at $249 with major upgrades: Always‑On Display, faster charging (about 2×), a skin-temperature sensor for cycle-tracking, and most of the newer software features. It lacks ECG and SpO2 compared with the Series 11 but offers strong value.
• Ultra 3: Announced alongside the other models; Apple’s higher-end wearable continues to target users who want maximum features and durability.

Hands-on impressions

The Series 11 felt indistinguishable from my Series 10 at first glance — same thinness and dimensions — so there may be little reason to upgrade if you own last year’s model. The new hypertension alerts are a meaningful health-focused addition, but they detect concerning variations rather than provide exact blood-pressure numbers; they’re intended to prompt medical follow-up when needed.

The SE 3 surprised me as the highlight for many: the Always‑On Display and much faster charging close the gap with Apple’s higher-end models, making the $249 price point very competitive if you can live without ECG and blood-oxygen readings.

Where to learn more / buy

• Search on Amazon: Apple Watch Series 11
• Search on Amazon: Apple Watch SE 3
• Search on Amazon: Apple Watch Ultra 3

Note: Series 11 is newly announced and available for preorder from Apple; it may not yet be listed for sale on Amazon at the time of posting.

Discussion

Would you upgrade your current watch to the Series 11, pick the value-packed SE 3, or wait for the Ultra 3? Share which model you’d choose and why.

This post summarizes hands-on impressions reported at Apple Park and is based on a preview session. More in-depth reviews will follow once review units are available.